Research helps dispel marijuana myths

Sober Talk ^ | Thursday, August 1, 2002 | By BECKY CLARK, MSW, CSW

[Behind Liberal Lines]

As we endeavor toward a more lucid and informed discussion of substance abuse, let's deconstruct the mystique of marijuana and recognize it for the dangerous drug that it is.

Marijuana is a substance that's worthy of our concern. It is the most prevalent of all illicit drugs used in the country. The 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported that 34 percent of Americans have used marijuana in their lifetime and 5 percent are current users.

[Pern]

You forgot the 'Extreme Barf, Hurl chunks' alert.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

no i didn't

flame on folks

[Wolfie]

He also left out the jazz music. And the white women consorting with black males.

[BrooklynGOP]

A 1988 study in the Archives of Surgery found that among 1,023 trauma victims, marijuana had been used by 34.7 percent, alcohol by 33.5.

I find that hard to believe. In fact I would like to know which hospital's emergency room(s) this study is referring to.

[Wolfie]

Any time an ER patient mentions that he/she has ever smoked marijuana, it is listed as the cause for the visit. They've started to play the same game with tobacco and health problems, which I admit, is kind of fun to watch.

What the WHO doesn't want you to know about cannabis

[fporretto]

In many parts of the country, more people are admitted to treatment for marijuana dependence than for heroin. Clearly, we can take from this that marijuana is, in fact, a dependence-fostering drug, a dependence that an increasing number of people are seeking help to address.

Not so fast, there. There are a lot of reasons why more people would "cite themselves" for marijuana use by entering such a program than admit to heroin use -- and not the least of these is that admitted heroin users will get a whole lot more attention from law enforcement.

Also, there are monetary considerations whose importance is difficult to estimate. The available funds for these programs, their use in prolonging one's employment (if one is under suspicion of having used drugs in the workplace), their treatment by health insurance plans, must all be factored in. No assertion about the current situation can be honestly prefixed with the debate-foreclosing adverb "clearly."

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit The Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com

[Wolfie]

Also, the new game in law enforcment is to force some mairjuana law violators into drug treatment (you're given a choice of course, jail time/probation, or treatment). The numbers are inflated, then the Prohbitionists like to pont out that more people are going for treatment.

[AppyPappy]

I fly better when I'm stoned.

[AppyPappy]

Ever heard of "chronic"?

[bleudevil]

In many parts of the country, more people are admitted to treatment for marijuana dependence than for heroin. Clearly, we can take from this that marijuana is, in fact, a dependence-fostering drug, a dependence that an increasing number of people are seeking help to address.

I'm not saying that marijuana is harmless, but I wonder if "admitted for treatment" really means court-ordered "treatment" for someone who blew a drug test.

[freedomcrusader]

Here's the abstract of the study. It was done by researchers in Baltimore. Just because 34.7% of patients had marijuana in their systems doesn't mean that marijuana was a direct cause of injury. The authors state nothing about causality.

Arch Surg 1988 Jun;123(6):733-7

Marijuana and alcohol use among 1023 trauma patients. A prospective study.

Soderstrom CA, Trifillis AL, Shankar BS, Clark WE, Cowley RA.

Department of Surgery/Traumatology, Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, Baltimore 21201-1595.

Marijuana use prior to injury was determined prospectively in 1023 patients injured as the result of vehicular (67.6%) and nonvehicular (32.4%) trauma. Most were men (72.8%); most were 30 years of age or younger (58.4%). All were admitted directly from the scene of injury. Serum delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol activity was ascertained using a radioimmunoassay. Activity of 2 ng/mL or more was detected in 34.7% of subjects. Blood alcohol determinations were made in 1006 patients; 33.5% were positive. Marijuana use among vehicular and nonvehicular trauma victims was not significantly different. Marijuana use was higher among those 30 years of age or younger and among men. Vehicular crash victims consumed alcohol more frequently. Use of marijuana and alcohol in combination (16.5%) was highly significant compared with marijuana alone (18.3%), alcohol alone (16.1%), or neither drug (49.1%).

[Destructor]

"The 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse reported that 34 percent of Americans have used marijuana in their lifetime and 5 percent are current users."

I guess the fact that Potheads are in the minority might make it harder to get Marijuana legalized. This is good news!

[liberallarry]

A perfect example of crap posing as documented research.

The country is filled with marijuana users leading normal, productive lives. Haven't you noticed? Don't you know any? If your answer to either of the above is no then you should focus your attention on other subjects about which you are better informed (if any such exists).

[sweet_diane]

"...more people are admitted to treatment for marijuana dependence than for heroin. Clearly, we can take from this that marijuana is, in fact, a dependence-fostering drug, a dependence that an increasing number of people are seeking help to address."

I would like to know how many of the people admitted to treatment for marijuana were court ordered (because they were found in possession) and how many were there due to a true addiction.

Back in my high school drug classes in the 70's we were taught that marijuana was not a physically addictive drug, that it may be psychologically addictive, but not physically...like say alcohol, heroin or coke is.

[TightSqueeze]

The American Psychiatric Association classifies marijuana as an addictive drug…

I stopped reading here, as this association also claims that homophobia is a disease and homosexuality is a life style choice. Pass the bong, nothing to see here. BTW you would be surprised to find out that most pot smokers are not flaming liberals.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

TCH is TCH, concetration just means smaller quantity same effect.

I believe the problem is that people AREN'T using the smaller quantities. They are using the same size of joint, for example. But getting a lot more THC than they might realize.

[philosofy123]

This is "junk science". Very similar to global warming! People with agenda attempt to hold on any number, even falsifies numbers to justify their case. If some wants to smoke weed, let him smoke his brain out, even subsidize the price to below cigarettes! People, it is not as dangerous as cigarettes! Once we take the profit out of drugs, the hole taboo will disappear!

[Linda Liberty]

The fact that the average age of first use among Americans has dropped, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, from age 20 in 1966 to age 16 as of 1996

demonstrates the remarkable success the drug war is having! Meanwhile in Holland, where marijuana has been de facto legal for 40 years, 1/3 as many people smoke marijuana as here, and the marijuana/coffee shops are filled largely with American tourists. And for this we are spending tens of billions a year and arresting 700,000 people?

In many parts of the country, more people are admitted to treatment for marijuana dependence than for heroin.

If you are arrested for marijuana, they give you a choice: jail or treatment. People aren't exactly seeking help. Since so many people are being arrested for marijuana, because so many people use it, naturally you see some admissions.